What Are the Different Types of Sorghum?

On January 12, 2018

Sorghum, also called milo, is truly a versatile crop. It’s one of the top five cereal crops in the world and can be grown as a grain, forage or sweet crop.

The United States is the world’s largest producer of sorghum. The Sorghum Belt runs from South Dakota to Southern Texas. The top-producing states are:

Kansas – 3.4 million acres

Texas – 2.6 million acres

Arkansas – 450,000 acres

Oklahoma – 440,000 acres

Colorado – 440,000 acres

Here’s a look at the four major types of sorghum:

Grain Sorghum

Grain sorghum can take many shapes and sizes from a tight-headed, round panicle to an open, droopy panicle that can be short or tall. Grain sorghum comes in red, orange, bronze, tan, white, and black varieties. Red, orange or bronze sorghum are very versatile and can be used in all segments of the sorghum industry. Tan, cream and white colored sorghum varieties are typically made into flour for the food industry. Black and burgundy varieties contain beneficial antioxidant properties and are used in other food applications.

Forage Sorghum

Depending on which species and variety is selected, sorghum can be used for grazing pasture, hay production, silage and green-chop. Forage sorghum typically grows 8-15 feet tall and is most popular for use as silage for feeding livestock.

Biomass Sorghum

Biomass sorghum has the largest stature of all the sorghum varieties, reaching a height of 20 feet in a normal growing season. Biomass sorghum has been bred to produce a large amount of non-grain biomass. These hybrids are used primarily for the production of bioenergy.

Sweet Sorghum

Sweet sorghum is predominantly grown for sorghum syrup. Unlike grain sorghum, sweet sorghum is harvested for the stalks rather than the grain and is crushed like sugarcane or beets to produce a syrup. Sweet sorghum was once the predominate table sweetener in the U.S. Today, sweet sorghum is used as a healthy alternative sweetener to produce whiskey and rum type products and for biofuel and chemical production.

Milk protein is naturally found in all dairy products and helps build strong muscles to support active lifestyles. Dairy foods are a tasty, convenient and cost-effective way to power up with protein throughout the day.